Life Cycle UK’s Workshop Instructor
1. Background Information
About Life Cycle UK
Life Cycle UK is an innovative Bristol charity that aims to get more people cycling. Our mission is
to transform lives, communities and the environment by getting more people onto bikes, thereby
reducing our carbon footprint and helping people become, fitter, healthier and happier.
There is more information on our website www.lifecycleuk.org.uk about our organisation and its
work.
Bike Back bike recycling project
Life Cycle collects donated bikes and takes them to HMP Bristol. Here they are stripped
down, cleaned and then rebuilt by prisoners under the tuition of an expert mechanic. The
bikes are sold to members of the public at bike sales held in Bristol City Centre
approximately every 8 weeks. All the funds raised at the bike sales are put directly back
into the project.
Benefits to the prisoners
By taking part in the Bike Back project prisoners are offered an opportunity to learn new
skills, stay motivated and gain confidence.
Benefits to the community
Many people would like to cycle but just can’t afford the full cost of a new bike. The
project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. One aim of the project is to help more people on
low incomes to cycle and live healthier and more active lives. We do this through the
provision of affordable bikes.
2. Job description
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Job purpose
To run a bike recycling workshop in the secure part of HMP Bristol. To be responsible for
teaching bike maintenance so that prisoners gain qualifications, work related skills and
demonstrate an increase in motivation and confidence.
General duties and responsibilities:
Prisoners:
● Teach bicycle mechanics to prisoners to facilitate the repair and restoration of donated
bicycles.
● Participate in the selection process of prisoners for the workshop.
● Induct prisoners to the workshop and train them in aspects such as health and safety ,
Control of Substance Hazardous to health (COSHH), machinery and tools usage.
● Assess and evaluate skills of prisoners, support the prisoners to achieve certificates and
qualifications.
● Provide support for prisoners where required; tailor learning and training requirements to
individual needs.
● Set work schedules, manage targets and quality standards to meet the project outcomes.
● Supervise and maintain discipline of prisoners within workshop, be responsible for
performance, motivation , discipline, appraisal and development of prisoners.
● Rub down and pat down search prisoners as required by management.
● Log attendance, do regime monitoring, keep prisoner training records up-to-date, approve
prisoner hours worked and wages including recording piece work where appropriate.
● Keep roll check up-to-date.
● Collect and keep accurate records of monitoring data from the prisoners as required by The
Big Lottery fund.
● Contribute to prisoner reports including parole and sentence planning.
● Track the use of tools by prisoners to ensure that all tools are accounted for and stored
securely when not in use and at end of each session.
● Track the use of bike parts by prisoners to ensure that all parts are accounted for and
stored securely when not in use and at end of each session.
The prison workshop:
● Carry out fabric and tool checks of workshops and maintain security of areas, logging any
tool or equipment faults.
● Contribute to Health and Safety risk assessments relating to the workshop.
● Request materials, estimate usage and re-stock the workshop regularly in order to make
sure the project runs efficiently and meets its outcomes.
● Ensure the workshop is kept clean and tidy, and that it meets Health & Safety
requirements.
Other duties within the prison: (training will be given if required)
● Maintain regular communications via radio net in accordance with Local Security Strategy
(LSS).
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● Complete the following forms when required:
- Open and complete Assessment Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) forms,
- Violence Reduction Incident Reports (VRIR)
- Security Information Reports (SIRs)
- Incentive Earned Privileges (IEP) reports.
In the RID store (non-secure workshop and storage area):
● Liaise with Life Cycle UK’s project mechanic to make sure a good flow of bikes, equipment
and spares into and out of the prison workshop.
● Order bike parts and spares as required.
Other duties:
● Attend and contribute to quarterly steering group meetings held in the RID store.
● Meet regularly with the Bike Back project manager to discuss on-going issues relating to
the project.
● Contribute to the development of the overall project.
● Attend meetings at Life Cycle UK’s offices in The Create Centre when required.
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Life Cycle UK’s Workshop Instructor
Person specification
Experience
Essential
Extensive recent experience of bicycle repair and adjustment.
Experience of teaching
Experience of working with prisoners or other challenging client groups
Desirable
Experience of workshop based employment.
Experience of working inside a prison or similar institution.
Experience in delivering Nationally recognised qualifications.
Qualifications
Desirable
A recognised cycle maintenance qualification such as CyTech.
A teaching qualification.
First aid certificate.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
Sound knowledge of cycle repair relating to a wide range of bicycle types, from the “cheap and
cheerful” end of the market including children’s bikes through the mid range models up to high end
bikes.
Knowledge of good practice in terms of running a bicycle workshop with regards to Health and
Safety, COSHH, good systems of work and ordering of spares and equipment.
Good communication skills.
Computer literate:
- Be able to use basic Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Be willing and able to learn how to use the prison specific computer software.
Desirable
Knowledge of cycling issues.
Knowledge of working within a prison environment.
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Location
The workshop mechanic will be based in a workshop within the secure perimeter of HMP Bristol,
19 Cambridge Road, Bristol, BS7 8PS.
Training
A hand-over period with the current Workshop Instructor is possible up until 31st March 2013
(after which he will be re-assigned elsewhere in the prison).
Prison related training: NB. This training will be scheduled once you are in post.
● Mental Health Awareness training;
● Fire Training;
● Health & Safety Training;
● ACCT (for working with vulnerable prisoners):
● Jail Craft.
On-going training from Life Cycle UK will be agreed once the skills and experience of the post
holder is known.
Management
The Workshop Instructor will be managed by the Life Cycle’s Bike Back project manager. Brief
written reports will be required quarterly to be presented at Trustee’s meetings.
References and Checks
In addition to the above, the Workshop Instructor will need to have passed disclosure checks
carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The prison will also carry out their own
more in depth identity and security checks. Appointment to the post will be conditional upon
successful completion of these checks. This includes declaring membership of groups or
organisations which the Prison Service consider to be racist. We will also require two personal
references.
Salary
This role is at Life Cycle Salary Grade 3, £21 - £26 000 depending on experience per annum.
Salaries are paid monthly in arrears and reviewed annually.
Life Cycle will make a matched contribution to your personal pension up to a maximum sum
equivalent to 5% of salary.
Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.
Conditions of employment
This post is for 5 days per week. The core working hours are Monday to Friday, 8 - 4.30 with a 1
hour lunch break.
Annual leave entitlement is 20 days plus 8 days to cover bank holidays.
This is a fixed term contract until March 31st 2017. It is our intention for the project to continue
past this date but no funding has been secured yet.
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Note: this job description is for guidance. Employees are expected to be flexible and co-operative
and to undertake additional duties as required.
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